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Magnepan 3.6

kjello

kjello

Super Member
Ok
So I'm about to close the deal on a pair of mint Magnepan 3.6, they come with a pair of Mye Stands.
So I just drop by for any opinion against buying these, as my first pair of electrostats.
Are the 3.7 much better? How is the Quad ESL? Any other brand/model I should concider under the 2000 dollar mark.

Any input welcome
Best regards
KO

Edit: Magneplanars not electrostats :rolleyes:
 
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Magneplanars (Magnepan is the name of the company that makes Magneplanar speakers) aren't electrostatic, they're planar magnetic, which means they're a different type of dynamic speaker. Also, the 3.6s (and 3.7s - not sure why you mentioned those in your last sentence) are line sources. Quad ESLs aren't.

Now, I love the sound of my Magneplanar MGIIIs (which is the ancestor of the 3.6), and I imagine that the 3.6s are even better.

Keep in mind that with planar speakers (including ESLs) you will not get chest-thumping bass like you'd expect with a standard box speaker. But the spaciousness is unmatched.

If you want deep bass but the spaciousness of a planar, consider a hybrid ESL from Martin Logan.
 
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Ah.. thanks guys. I thought the Magneplanars where electrostats, thanks for clearing that up. I edited my question as it was clumsy written. Probably will test the 3.6. The seller also has a pair of 20.1 he wants me to hear.
 
I'm going to assume that the 20.1 are a lot more expensive, but if they're within your budget, you'll probably never want for an upgrade after buying them.

Keep in mind that you'll need a fairly large amp for either of these. Unlike traditional dynamic speakers, their impedance curve is relatively flat, but they are 4Ω, and they do like power.

ETA: I see that you already have two powerful NAD amps. One should do fine, but you won't be able to bridge them (unclear if you're doing that now) because of the low impedance of the Maggies. You could biamp, but you'll need an active crossover, as AFAIK, Magneplanars don't support passive biamping.

ETA2: I stand corrected, looks like the 20.1 crossovers do support passive biamping.
 
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swechsler said:
I'm going to assume that the 20.1 are a lot more expensive, but if they're within your budget, you'll probably never want for an upgrade after buying them.

Keep in mind that you'll need a fairly large amp for either of these. Unlike traditional dynamic speakers, their impedance curve is relatively flat, but they are 4Ω, and they do like power.
Click to expand...

The 20.1 are not for sale, and out of my price range for now, maybe a bad idea to compare the two :)
 
IME you'll almost immediately like or dislike the sound of planars. If you like the sound there is usually no going back to boxes.

The 20.1's are bigger and better than the 3.6's. They are in a different class price and sound wise.

FWIW: Magneplanars are not the only planar magnetic speakers. Eminent Technology also makes planar magnetics. The late lamented Apogee planars are also planar magnetic (they had ribbon tweeters). All electrostatics need voltage from a wall outlet and consequently they have a plug or wall wart to get their AC.
 
kjello said:
The 20.1 are not for sale, and out of my price range for now, maybe a bad idea to compare the two :)
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I've heard the 3.6, 3.7 and 20.1 at a reviewer friends home using exceptional gear.

The 20.1s do offer lower and quite good bass response than the 3.6s and offer a sweet ribbon top end, but I still prefer the "dot 7" series in terms of coherency. The 20.1's sound is not entirely of one cloth.
 
E-Stat said:
The 20.1s do offer lower and quite good bass response than the 3.6s and offer a sweet ribbon top end, but I still prefer the "dot 7" series in terms of coherency. The 20.1's sound is not entirely of one cloth.
Click to expand...
E-Stat, I 'm a little confused by this response. AFAIK all 3 series and 20 series Maggies have ribbon tweeters. Is there something unique about the x.7 ribbons?
 
kjello said:
Ok
So I'm about to close the deal on a pair of mint Magnepan 3.6, they come with a pair of Mye Stands.
So I just drop by for any opinion against buying these, as my first pair of electrostats.
Are the 3.7 much better? How is the Quad ESL? Any other brand/model I should concider under the 2000 dollar mark.

Any input welcome
Best regards
KO
Click to expand...

Depends what your local market is like, but here in the US you'd be able to find a number of Martin Logan, Acustat, Kingsound, and other brands of electrostats in that range.
 
Silentnet said:
Depends what your local market is like, but here in the US you'd be able to find a number of Martin Logan, Acustat, Kingsound, and other brands of electrostats in that range.
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Well the OP shows Norway as his location. If that is where he is, might limit the options a good bit.

The Magneplanar sound is something special. They will not knock you down with sound as many box speakers will but when you close your eyes you will see the performance. Not many other speakers do it even close to the Magneplanar way. Once you hear them you will know if they are a speaker you need to own. And to think that there is a new 30.7 available now and the seller may need to upgrade in a year or so. Maybe make you a deal on the planar magnetic with ribbon tweeter 20.1s when it is time. So beneficial for both of you to hear the 20.1. He may have a future sale and you will know what they sound like.
 
swechsler said:
E-Stat, I 'm a little confused by this response. AFAIK all 3 series and 20 series Maggies have ribbon tweeters. Is there something unique about the x.7 ribbons?
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Well the biggest difference in the x.7 versions is that the speakers are now full range ribbons. No longer merely "quasi".

While the 3.6R does have a ribbon tweeter, I believe it is not identical to the one in the 20.1. I know for sure that the 1.7i and 3.7i benefited from some "trickle down" technology from the 20.7. Which is to say that the ribbons in the 1.7 and 3.7 are not identical to that of the 20.7. Upgrading a 3.7 to 3.7i is about $500 from the factory.
 
The first time I listened to my (ancient,1978, compared to the 3.6's) restored SMG's, I was SHOCKED at how great they sound! The dimensionality, airy spaciousness is amazing.
I now run a Definitive Technology Supercube II with them, and it's truly an amazing listening experience. The sub really helps relieve the SMG's of the lower octives, allowing them to play much louder without mylar flap, basically like a woofer VC bottoming out. I also found the best position was to have them almost on the same plane, with very slight toe in, which greatly widened the sweet spot.
You are going to love them!
Glenn
 
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E-Stat said:
Well the biggest difference in the x.7 versions is that the speakers are now full range ribbons. No longer merely "quasi".
Click to expand...

The reviews of the 30.7 say it is a set of three quasi-ribbons for the bass, mid-bass and midrange and a ribbon tweeter. I don't think Magneplanar has ever made a speaker with more than a tweeter that was a true ribbon. All the newer speakers are moving or have moved to the quasi-ribbon design, basically swapping the round wire for flat wire for the driver, but still attached to the Mylar. The true ribbons, used as tweeters in the III, IIIa and 3. -series, the 2.5 and 2.6 and the 20 and 30 models is different in that the ribbon is the part that moves the air, not the Mylay attached to the ribbon. The 1.7i model is a full-range quasi-ribbon speaker with a quasi-ribbon woofer and quasi-ribbon tweeter. The newer 2-series speaker, 2.7, that replaced the 2.6 (two way with a ribbon tweeter and conventional round wire on Mylar woofer) was a three-way using the quasi-ribbon technology but not the ribbon tweeter.

The 3-series speakers is really where the value is on the used market. They can be affordable and are a three-way speaker, with the excellent true ribbon tweeter. Those 3.6 speakers are something special and if you like the sound they will be a great speaker to add to your system.
 
Thank you all
I guess its time to pull the trigger then :) I feel my mind is open.
One other question:
There's also a set of Final 1.2 Full Range electrostats from the mid 90's available on the sales listings.
Anyone has some input here? Price is roughly the same.

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final6_zpsg6i7uppd.jpg

final2_zpsk8j3xtdq.jpg

final5_zpsh5ohlkh3.jpg

final3_zpsb6hz7t1d.jpg
 
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swechsler said:
I'm going to assume that the 20.1 are a lot more expensive, but if they're within your budget, you'll probably never want for an upgrade after buying them.

Keep in mind that you'll need a fairly large amp for either of these. Unlike traditional dynamic speakers, their impedance curve is relatively flat, but they are 4Ω, and they do like power.

ETA: I see that you already have two powerful NAD amps. One should do fine, but you won't be able to bridge them (unclear if you're doing that now) because of the low impedance of the Maggies. You could biamp, but you'll need an active crossover, as AFAIK, Magneplanars don't support passive biamping.

ETA2: I stand corrected, looks like the 20.1 crossovers do support passive biamping.
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Ok yes I have a Ashley active crossover and I dont like to bridge the NAD's unless speakers are 8 ohm rated.
Still I prefer 2-way 4 channel biamp, passive or active.
 
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I would listen to both and then consider what happens when something happens. The Magneplanars can be rebuilt at the factory...maybe not something affordable for those off the NA continent. The tweeters are replaceable and a swap here is 100 bucks each plus shipping both ways. Other parts of the world might have a repairing dealer or Magnepan may make the repair kit available. A bit difficult but not impossible to do. The Finals may have an easier route to repair if needed, I don't know. I do know that Martin Logan has stopped repairing a good number of their speakers which must be a serious hit on value. I don't know which of their electrostatics they no longer repair.

Sonics should rule the selection with a bit of thought to the issues related to wear and tear as the speakers get older.
 
Blue Shadow said:
I would listen to both and then consider what happens when something happens. The Magneplanars can be rebuilt at the factory...maybe not something affordable for those off the NA continent. The tweeters are replaceable and a swap here is 100 bucks each plus shipping both ways. Other parts of the world might have a repairing dealer or Magnepan may make the repair kit available. A bit difficult but not impossible to do. The Finals may have an easier route to repair if needed, I don't know. I do know that Martin Logan has stopped repairing a good number of their speakers which must be a serious hit on value. I don't know which of their electrostatics they no longer repair.

Sonics should rule the selection with a bit of thought to the issues related to wear and tear as the speakers get older.
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ML got so much kick-back from owners that they agreed to keep doing repairs on older models... But parts costs (like replacement panels) have gone way up. 2x in some cases.
 
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